The federal government has urged Nigerians to reject prepaid meters without the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) label.

NEMSA’s chief electrical inspector Peter Ewesor, charged Nigerians to ensure that meters installed are in line with the approved metering code.

Mr Ewesor stated this at a seminar organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in Abuja on Tuesday.

He maintained that the agency would continue to deliver on its set goal to guarantee safety of lives and property in the electricity supply industry within the country.

“I think a lot needs to be passed across to Nigerians, especially knowing their rights when it comes to metering. People should know that electricity meters are to measure power that is delivered and consumed.

”Nigerians need to first appreciate that, any meter they bring into your premises, if you do not see NEMSA label, then that meter has not been tested by NEMSA in line with the law and therefore, it is not supposed to be installed or used,” said Mr Ewesor.

He added, ”Nigerians can reject such a meter to be installed for them because if they install a meter that is faulty, you can end up paying for what you did not consume in terms of estimated billing.

”At the same time, we want Nigerians to learn how to manage their power supply. For example, you have installed a meter in your house, you have bought credit, but you are putting on all your gadgets instead of putting them off.”

The NEMSA boss further said the federal government was giving out about six million meters.

The BPSR Director-General, Dasuki Arabi, charged other agencies to relate with the citizens by giving information on their activities.

”We are celebrating success on the reforms in the Nigerian public service. You are aware that NEMSA is a subset of some of the agencies that emerged as a result of power reforms in this country.

”What we have been advising the agency and other agencies of government is to relate with the citizens, provide information on their activities. That is the only way we can understand what is happening up there,” he said.

(NAN)